Doorstop and holder for automobiles



July 2, 1940.

A. W LOECHER DOORSTOP AND HOLDER FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed July 10, 1959 flTTJENgY.

Patented July 2, 1940 PATENT OFFICE DOORSTOP AND HOLDER FOR AUTOMOBILES Aloysius W. Loecher, Bellevue, Pa. Application July 10, 1939, Serial No. 283,596

2 Claims. My invention is an improvement in door checks or stops especiallyadap-ted for use in connection with doors of automobiles or other vehicles. The doors of the modern motor vehicle, especially when of considerable width and weight, tend 'to swing inwardly Whenopened at either side if the machineis not standing on a level grade, or even on a level grade, depending on the hanging of the door. Such tendency is especially annoying and troublesome when the door is opened by a passenger for exit, or when entering, and when r not arrested becomes very inconvenient and somewhat dangerous.

In my invention I provide an arresting device adapted to be mounted on the usual running board, or equivalent fixed support, in the path of the lower edge of the door, for engagement therewith as hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawing showing preferred forms of the device:

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation of a portion of a motor vehicle door in closed position, inwardly beyond the arresting device;

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line I I-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on the line III-III of Fig. 2, with the door holding abutment extended;

Fig. 4 is a view of the device in elevation, with the abutment in its lowermost position;

Fig. 5 is a View like Fig. 3 showing a modified form of base and connection with the running board;

Fig 6 is a cross section on the line VI-VI of i Fig. 3;

adjustable arrestadjusting spanner a button engaging ing is very objectionable, either during entrance or exit of a passenger. I have therefore provided the arresting device or unit generally identified by the letter A and located on a suitable support,

as the running board 4, for holding the door against reverse swinging.

Such device is so constructed as to permit movement of the door over it by slight manual of tubing, is provided with threads pressure, but to prevent reverse movement except by further similar pressure, when desired, as in closing. It consists of a terminal rounded button abutment 5 having central threaded engagement with a headed bolt 6 Within a cup-like casing l fixedly inserted within the upper portion of a tubular holder 8.

The abutment 5 is rotatable for longitudinal adjustment on bolt 6 bya spanner 9 engageable inside sockets [0. Bolt 6 is non-rotatably held in the bottom I I of casing 1 by squared shank I 2, and a spring l3 intervenes between bottom I I and the button 5, ensuring its operative placement in any adjusted position. By such construction it will be seen that bottom ll extends across the interior of the tubular holder 8 and provides a spring supporting bearing.

The tubular holder 8, which may be a section l4 engaging the middle threaded portion of base [5. base, of circular or other form, seats upon the upper surface of the running board 4, which, in

the forms of Figs. 3 and 4, is perforated as at l6 for extension therethrough of the threaded holder 8. When adjusted vertically to any desired position, the holder and its base is then clamped to the running board and held by a nut I! and washer IS, with or without a lock nut.

Supplemental adjustment for exact relation to Such 0 the under edge of the door may then be had by rotation of the button 5, for either raising or lowering.

When so mounted the door may be closed in the usual manner, riding over the spring cushioned button and depressing it and its bolt, with corresponding reaction when released by further closing door movement. Upon the door being sufliciently opened for entrance or exit however, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, any gravitating or swinging tendency of the door tending to llose it will be arrested by the upstanding button abutment, until further closing pressure is applied in the usual manner.

In order to provide for material variation in height between the running board level and the plane of movement of the door edge, thethreaded portion of the holder 8 is of considerable length. Such corresponding limits of location of the but ton abutment are indicated in the relative upper and lower positions of Figs. 3 and 4, and a portion of the base of the height shown may be left unthreaded, as at l9.

When however, as in the case of several standard heights for known dimensions of various cars, I have provided the construction shown in Fig. 5, requiring but limited adjustment by threads I4. In such case the running board perforation [6 need not be made, the base [a having a somewhat extended flange portion 20 secured by bolts 2| and nut or nuts 22. v

The base l5a is threaded to provide a limited vertical adjustment of holder 8 and when suitably adjusted it may be fixedly held by lock nut 23, the construction and operation otherwise being as above described.

When desired a stop plate 2 may be secured to the lower inner edge of the door having a bev eled lower edge 25 facilitating outward movement over the button, and also inward movement in closing with suificient force.

The construction and operation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing description. It is comparatively simple and cheap in construction, is readily applicable to all cars having swinging doors within wide variations in vertical distance between the door and running board, may be of highly polished metal, is ornamental, and may be easily equipped or removed.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with the outwardly extending running board and the outwardly swinging hinged door of an automobile, the lower edge whereof moves at an indetermined distance above the surface of the running board, means for arresting reverse swinging of the door when partly opened consisting of a centrally open threaded supporting base secured to the upper surface of the running board sufficiently close to the hinge mounting of the door to be beyond entrance and exit clearance to and from the interior when the door is partly open, a tubular threaded holder engaging the base for vertical adjustment therein with relation to variable distance of the lower edge of the door above the running board, a lock nut therefor, a tubular casing in the upper portion of the tubular holder having a transverse bottom and an upper limiting flange, a central longitudinally m o v a b 1 e bolt non-rotatably mounted in the transverse bottom of the tubular casing and having a retaining head and a threaded terminal, and a terminal rounded button threaded on the bolt providing supplemental adjustment with relation to the lower edge of the door engageable with the door edge.

2. In combination with the outwardly extending running board and the outwardly swinging hinged door of an automobile, the lower edge whereof moves at an indetermined distance above the surface of the running board, the lower edge of the door being provided with a bevel edge stop plate, means for arresting reverse swinging of the door when partly opened consisting of a centrally open threaded supporting base secured to the upper surface of the running board sufficient- 1y close to the hinge mounting of the door to be beyond entrance and exit clearance to and from the interior when the door is partly open, a tubular threaded holder engaging the base for vertical adjustment therein with relation to variable distance of the lower edge of the door above the running board, a lock nut therefor, a tubular casing in the upper portion of the tubular holder having a transverse bottom and an upper limiting flange, a central longitudinally movable bolt non-rotatably mounted in the transverse bottom of the tubular casing and having a retaining head and a threaded terminal, and a terminal rounded button threaded on the bolt providing supplemental adjustment with relation to the lower edge of the door engageable with the stop plate on the door edge.

ALOYSIUS W. LOECHER. 

